Strapping machine



Oct. 23, 1962 E. J. voRRATH ETAL 3,059,386

sT PPIN HINE gy www Oct. 23, 1962 E. .1. voRRATH ETAL STRAPPING MACHINE6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1959 INVENToRs. merli/UWM BY alum/Lwin/Mex Oct. 23, 1962 E. J. voRRATH ETAL STRAPPING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed DeC. 2, 1959 E. J. VORRATH El' AL Oct. 23, 1962STRAPPING MACHINE 1r, 4 s( w@ m uw mw www m V w mJIn O.. e l m L Y B ww1| QQ m m @N m Oct. 23, 1962 E. J. voRRA-rl-l ETAL 3,059,386

STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lll- Imlllllll mml 1N VEN TORS Ebner IZ/armi?? octzs, 1962 E. J.VORRATH ET AL 3,059,386

STRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United StatesPatent O 3,959,386 ST PING MAC Elmer ll. Vorrath, East Hazelcrest, andAlvin L. Winkler,

Chicago, ill., assignors to Acme Steel Company, Chi'- cago, lll., acorporation of illinois Filed Dec. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 856,S53 2S Claims.(Cl. 53-13) closed strap loops radially around the annular portions ofthe coil. In order .to position the straps, a widely used method is tofeed the strap endwise and manipulate the strap end into a loop aboutthe annular portions of the coil. In doing this, auxiliary strap guidemeans can be used to yfacilitate lthe manipulation. Where the coils aredelivered on a conveyor system the auxiliary strap guide means isusually limited to guiding the strap at a level below the deliveryheight of the coil because the guide cannot project above the level ofthe conveyor where it would interfere with movement of the coil. `Forthis reason the guide usually does not help much toward directing thestrap end to a position -where it can be conveniently grasped by theworker and, so, it is ordinarily necessary for the worker to reach downinto the center of the coil to grasp the strap end prior to encirclingthe strap on the coil, or else, if the guide directs the strap lthroughthe center of the coil, it `ordinarily directs it away from and beyondthe normal reach of the worker. In order to overcome this diiiiculty, itis the principal object of the invention to provide an improved guidemeans which assists the worker by causing the strap end, upon endwisefeeding of the strap, to bulge upwardly through the central opening ofthe coil where a worker can conveniently grasp it. lt is another objectof the invention to provide such an improved guide means which causesthe strap end to bulge upwardly through the central opening of the coil,which bulge can be regulated in size by mere regulation of the amount ofStrap feed, thus enabling the worker to grasp the strap at Whateverlevel is convenient for him.

lt is another object of the invention to provide a strap guide of thetype mentioned which is aplicable for use on a strapping device whereinthe strap feed is performed completely by hand or is readily adapted foruse with means Which automatically or semi-automatically feeds the strapand secures the overlapping ends of the strap loop together after theloop is encircled about the coil portions.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an improvide strappingdevice having a strapping head yfor tensioning and joining together theends of a strap loop encircled about an object which strapping head ismounted in such a way that it can be locked in position relative to itssupport but still be provided with a floating action which insuresacquiring equalized tension of the strap loop on the coil during thestrap tensioning period.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improvedstrapping device embodying both the improved strap guide of thisinvention which is used for assisting in the formation of the strap looparound the coil portions and a strapping head of a type which is used tofeed the strap, tension the strap, and secure the overlapping strap endsof a loop encircled about a coil portion, wherein the strapping head ismovably mounted in such a way 3,059,385 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 ice thatit can be locked in position relative to its support but still beprovided with a iloating action which insures acquiring equalizedtension of the strap loops on the coil when the strapping head causesthe strap to be tensioned.

It is another object of the invention to provide an im proved method ofmaking a binder strap available for conveniently encircling it around anobject.

Another object is to provide an improved method of making a binder strapavailable for conveniently encircling it around an annular object.

Other objects and advantages of the invention should become apparent byreferring to accompanying drawings in which lFIG. l shows -a perspectiveview of the upper portions of a strapping apparatus embodying theinvention and includes a showing of the relative position of a workerusing the apparatus to strap coils of strip material;

FIG. la shows a perspective view of a coil of strip material after ithas been strapped with the apparatus of FIG. l;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the strapping apparatus embodying rtheinvention;

iFlG. 3 shows an upper elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the strapping head asviewed in the central region of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of strapping head portions along the line6-6 o-f FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 shows a partial sectional view along the line 7-7 of FIG. Q, andparticularly shows the relationship of the strapping head with theimproved strap guide of this invention.

The apparatus of this invention is used to facilitate strapping of coilsof stri-p material of the type shown in FIG. 1a where a coil 1, havingbeen wound into an annular or ring shape, is provided by the apparatusWith closed loops 2 of binder strap which are secured tightly in radialdirections around annular portions of the coil in a radial direction.These loops 2 of strap are secured by joining together the twooverlapping ends of the strap forming each loop by deforming the twooverlapping strap ends and a tubular metal seal 3 encircling them toform a joint 4.

As sho-wn in FIG. l, a plurality of coils is supported on three conveyorunits S, 6 and 7. The conveyor unit 5 is any conventional roller typeconveyor provided with free wheeling rollers 8 journaled to a supportingframe 9, the coils 1 being adapted to roll freely across the uppersurfaces of the rollers S, from a region where the coils are Aformedfrom continuous strip lengths. The conveyor unit 6 is actually part ofthe strapping apparatus embodying this invention and it has freewheeling rollers 10 of the same type as the rollers 8 of the unit 5 sothat the coils 1 can be transported freely across their upper surfaces.After the coils 1 have been strapped they are passed beyond the rollers10 to the conveyor unit 7 which is divided into two parts 7a and 7b,each being provided with -free wheeling rollers 11a and 11b,respectively, on which the coils 1 can be easily transported.

Although the conveyor units S and 7 may be of any conventional type, theconveyor unit 6` is a necessary part of the apparatus associated withthe strapping means of this invention. This unit 6 is associated with astrapping head 12 which is provided `with means for feeding a length ofstrap endwise from a source of strap supply and is thereafter adapted totension the strap by reverse endwise feeding of the strap after thestrap is encircled in a loop about a coil portion, and then it securestogether the overlapping strap ends of the loop encircling the coilportion and severs the supply of strap end from view along the line 4-4of the secured strap loop. One of the principal features of theinvention is the apparatus providing for positioning the leading end ofthe strap where it is convenient for the operator to grasp it duringthestrapping operation. The manner of operation when strapping the coils1 is for the operator to cause the strapping apparatus 12 to feed alengthl of strap endwise below the level of a coil 1 supported on theunit 6. The strap is fed as far as the region adjacent the centralopening y1a of the coil -1. Ordinarily it is necessary tor the operatoror worker 13 to reach into the opening =1a and grasp the leading end 14aof the strap l1&1. Hethen manipulates the leading strap end 14a into aloop about an annular portion of the coil -1 in a direction radially ofthe coil and then inserts the leading strap end 14a beneath the coil inoverlapping relationship with the supply strap end 14b. It is desirableto guide the leading strap end 14a up through the opening-1a of the coil1 to a height above its upper level where it can more easily be graspedby the worker 13- but, when the ordinary guide is used which directs thestrap through the center of the coil, it ordinarily is directed away andbeyond the normal `reach ofthe worker so that he must extend his reachto grasp the leading end 14a. Also, because the coils 1 must be freelypassed over the rollers 10 of the conveyor unit 6, it is undesirable tohave any guide projecting above the level of the rollers lil'.Therefore, 'it is diliicult to provide adequate guide means vtoaccomplish the resultwithout any upwardly projecting strap guidemembers. The manner of doing so is by providing a strap guide below thelevel of the rollers which is provided with an Yabutment speciallyshaped to cause the leading strap endA tobe halted at its` extreme endand thereupon caused to be bulged upwardly behindits extreme end into-anupwardly extending bulge portion y141e or bubble of strap, as it isreferred to, to alevel where it can be conveniently grasped by theWorker. The advantage of the bulge portion 14C is that there is nofreely extending unsupported Vendrextending randomly into the air which,due to its own springiness and ilexibility, would tend to vibrate lbackand forth as it is fed to thereby make it more diicult lfor the operatorto grasp. The bulge portion provides a length of strap formed into aloop whereby the leading end is held temporarily secured and the supplyend is also restricted in movement with the result that the bulgeportion 14p is relatively controlled in its movement and assumes a muchmore regulated path of movement than the Vsituation where the free endof the strap is fedV ordischarged into the air in an unsupportedrmanner.The effect of this is that the operator knows exactly where to reach forthe bulge portion 14e of the strap and, consequently, is provided withgreater facility for the strapping operation which is believed to makehim more eicient by cutting down fatigue and thereby accelerating thestrapping operation. As particularly shown in FIGS. 1, 2,. 3 and 4, theunit 6 consists of the rollers 10 which are of diiferent lengthsdepending upon their location on the unit 6. in ladd-ition to therollers 110, there are three taperedrollers 1S, 16 and 17. These rollersare journaled at their near ends in vertically extending bearings 15a,16a and 17a, respectively, and at their outer ends in bearings 15b, 16hand 17h, respectively, which are secured in substantially verticallyextending plates 15e, -16c and 17C, re-V spectively. The reason that therollers '10 are of different lengths is to provide -for the positioningof the tapered rollers 1'5, 16 and 17 in spaces between them (FIG. 2).The bearings 15a, E16a and 17a are secured to brackets 15d, 16d and 17dwhich are secured by means of screws 18 to a spider 19 having threeradially extending arms 20, one for each of the tapered rollers 15, 216and 17. Each of the brackets 15e, -16c and 17eV areV secured by meansVof screws 21 to the end of its respective arm of the spider 19. Thespider 19 isprovided i at its central region with a hub 22 which titsover the upper end 23 of a shaft 24 and is held secured to this upperend 23 by means of a screw 25 passed through the outer end of the hub 22and threadably engaging the shaft 24 in a longitudinally extendingthreaded hole. The shaft 24 passes through a circular hole 26 extendingvertically through a sleeve 27 which is secured to an intermediate framemember 6a of the conveyor unit 6. The lower end of the shaft 24 isprovided with an upwardly extending hole `28 which is provided with theupper end 29 of the piston rod 30'. The iit between the upper end 29 ofthe piston rod is very loose so that space is provided between the outerwall of the piston rod and the inner wall of the hole 28. The lower endof the piston rod 30 is secured to a piston 31 contained in a cylinder32. Upon proper introduction of iiuid or .air into the cyiinder 32, thepiston 31 is caused to move in such a way that the piston rod 30 iseither extended or retracted. When the piston rod is extended, thespider 19 is ele- `vated to cause the tapered rollers 15, 16 and 17 tolikewise be elevated above the level of the top surfaces of the rollers16. When this is done, a coil 1 resting on the rollers 11d above thepositions of the tapered rollers 1,15, 16 and 17 is raised by thesetapered rollers above the level of the rollers l@ so that the coil 1rests only on the tapered rollers 15, 16 and 17. When the piston rod 3dis retracted, the tapered rollers 15, 16 and 1'/ are lowered below thelevel of the upper surfaces of the rollers 1) so that the coil 1 againrests upon the rollers 10 free and clear of the tapered rollers.

Y The outer ends of both of the rollers 15 and 16 are provided withintegral hanged sheaves 33- which are encircled with portions of acontinuous lflexible belt 34. Secured to the under surfaces of the twoarms Zit corresponding to the locations of the tapered rollers 15 and 16are two depending inverted U-shaped brackets 3S and 36 which eachrotatably support two additional sheaves 37 and 38. These sheaves arealigned parallel with each otherV and angularly with the sheaves 33 in amanner as particularly shown in FIG. 2 so that the continuous belt 34passes below them and extends in straight paths between them. ln thismanner la continuous belt 34 passes up and over a tirst sheave 33t,-down around a sheave 38, over to and below a sheave 37, up and aroundthe other sheave 33, down to the other sheave 37 and around beneath it,and finally in a straight path over to the first mentioned sheave 33 tocomplete the closed circuit path. The shaft of the tapered roller 16extends outwardly beyond the sheave 33 attached to it and the shaft isprovided With a hand crank 39 which maybe used to rotate the taperedroller 116 on its axis. While so doing, the continuous belt 34 is alsoactuated as the corresponding sheave 33 is rotated with the taperedroller 116. Movement of the continuous belt 34 is transmitted to theother sheave 33 attached to the tapered roller 15 with the result thatthe roller 15 is similarly rotated when the roller 16 is. The purpose ofrotation ofV these two rollers 15 and 16 is to cause the coil y1positioned on the rollers to be rotated after a strap is secured to itso that a strap may be secured in a new location on the coil withoutrelocating the strapping unit 12.

The conveyor unit 6, in addition to being provided with the rollers 10,1S, 16 and 17, `and their related supporting structure, is also providedwithY a special strap end guide 4t) at its central region approximatelyat the point of convergence of the three axes of the tapered rollers 15,16 and 17. This is the region above which the central opening 1a of acoil 1 is automatically positioned for strapping purposes. The strap endguide 49 consists of two side plates 41 and 42 which are used toradially guide the leading strap end 14a when it is fed into the strapend guide. These side plates 41 and 42 are securely mounted in apermanent position to the frame of the conveyor unit 6. Between the twoside plates 41 and 4Z is secured to a strap end stop 43 which is aspecially shaped flat strip for accomplishing one of the main objects ofthe invention. This strap end stop 43 is eX- plained in more detailhereinafter.

The strapping apparatus 12 embodied as part of the invention issupported by four grooved wheels 44 which ride on two inverted V-shapedtracks 45 and 46 which rest on a plate 47 secured to the floor. rlhesewheels 44 are journaled freely on shafts 48 which are secured to twoparallel frame members 49 and 5G` which have secured to them verticalframe members 51 and 52, These vertical frame members 51 and 52 are heldparallel to each other by means of a transverse frame member 53 and alsoby a plate 54 also secured between the frame members 49 and 50. All ofthe frame members 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 provide an integral carriagefor the support of a strapping head 55. rl`he strapping head 55 isprovided at its upper end with apertured ears 56 which are trunnionedthrough their apertures on a shaft 57. The shaft 57 has its two endsjournaled in pillow blocks or bearings 58 and 59 mounted by means ofscrews 60 to the upper ends of the frame members 51 and 52. In thismanner the strapping head 55 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 57 sothat it can pivot between the position shown in bold outline at 57 andits position as shown in dotted lines 55a in FIG. 4. The means forcausing the pivotal movement of the strapping head 55 is an air cylinder61 secured on an L-shaped frame member 62 secured between the twovertical members 51 and 52. The cylinder 61 is provided with a pistonrod 63 which is pivoted to a projection 64 at the rear end of thestrapping head 55. When air or other fluid is properly admitted to thecylinder 61, the piston rod 63 is either caused to extend or retract.When it is extended, it causes the strapping head 55 tol pivot in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 and, when it is retracted, itcauses the strapping head to be pivoted in the opposite direction.Clockwise pivoting of the strapping head 55 raises the joint formingmechanism 55h of the strapping head 55 to be elevated up to the regionof a coil 1 resting on the tapered rollers 15, 16 and 17 where it can beused to secure the overlapping ends of a strap loop encircled on thecoil 1. Pivotal movement of the strapping head 55 in a counter-clockwisedirection causes the joint forming mechanism 55h to be lowered away fromthe coil region and aligns strap guide portions of the strapping head 55in its proper strap feeding relationship with the strap end guide 40 inpreparation for the beginning of a strapping cycle.

The strapping head S5 can be of many different forms and, in some cases,can be entirely eliminated, provided hand tools would be used for theformation of a strap joint. The advantage of using a strapping head 55of the nature to be generally described is to accelerate the strappingcycle for increased speed and eiiiciency.

In addition to the joint forming mechanism 55b, the strapping head 55may have a coil of strip 65 from which tubular metal seals can be formedin the head itself rather than providing preformed seals or clips as issometimes ordinarily done. In addition, the strapping head 5S must beprovided with some sort of strap feed mechanism which feeds the straplongitudinally in both a forward and reverse direction. Many forms ofstrap feed are possible and available. However, it is suicient that thestrap 14 be guided through the machine from a source of supply which maybe in the form of a coil of strap material, in the ordinary situation,and have a toothed feed wheel 66 engaging the strap 14 -against theperiphery of an idler wheel 67. In this manner, rotation of the feedwheel 66 causes movement of the strap 14 around the idler wheel 67. Inorder to maintain the proper path of the strap through the strappinghead, appropriate guide means can be used.

As an example of the type of strapping head 55 which may be used, FIGS.5 and 6 show some of the details of such a unit. The joint formingmechanism 55h consists of a plurality of jaws 68 which can beappropriately actuated to deform a metal seal 3 encircled about twooverlapping strap ends 14a and 14h to form a conventional interlockingtype joint 4 as indicated generally in FIG. la. Before the joint isformed, the leading end 14a of the strap is gripped by means of two jaws69 which press the strap end 14a against a plate 70 and grip it tightlyby action of sharp projections 69a protruding from the tips of the jaws69. After the joint is formed between the seal and the strap ends, ashear plate 71 is moved longitudinally to shear the supply of strap 14from the strap loop 2 encircling the coil. The seal forming mechanism isgenerally indicated at 72 and consists of an anvil 73 over which a seal3 can be formed into a U-shape as a U-shape plunger 74 is actuatedagainst the anvil 73. After the seal 3 is formed, shoulders 73a on theanvil 73 are used to feed a seal 3 forward and in between the sealingjaws 68 in preparation for reception of the strap ends of a newly formedstrap loop 2.

In general operation of the apparatus, the worker 13 stands in aposition as shown in FIG. l. In this situation, the coils 1 of strip aremoved in the direction of the arrow 75 along the conveyor units 5, 6 and7. An unstrapped coil 1 is moved manually from the conveyor unit 5 tostrapping position centrally of the conveyor unit 6 to a position shownby dotted lines in FIG. 2 with the central opening 1a of the coil 1positioned above the strap end guide 40. With the coil properlypositioned, the strapping unit 12 is operated by power means within itto cause rotation of the feed wheel 66 in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 4. This causes the strap 14 to be fed endwise in thedirection of the arrow 76 (FIG. 4) and around the idler wheel 67,through the guide portion 77 (FIG. 2) of the strapping head S5, past thejoint forming mechanism 55b and the anvil 73,` and nally into the strapend guide 40 between its side plates 41 and 42. As particularly shown inFIG. 7, the strapping head 55 is lowered by pivotal movement on itsshaft 57 to its lowermost position indicated by dotted lines 55a uponproper actuation of the air cylinder 61 so that its piston rod 63 isretracted. This position of the strapping head 55 aligns the strap guidemeans 77 so that the strap 14 fed longitudinally through it is direct-edat the proper level into the strap end guide 4d along an upwardly slopedsurface 43a of the strap end stop 43. The extreme end 14C of the strap14, in its longitudinal movement forward, strikes another downwardlysloped surface 43h of the strap end stop 43. The result of this is thatthe extreme end 14d is deflected in a path along the slope-d surface431; untilit is arrested in its endwise movement by a downwardly slopedcurved surface 43C. The downward deflection of the extreme end 14dcreates an upward bow in the region 14e of the strap. As the strap 14 iscontinued to be fed forward, the action is such that the upward bowbecomes larger in the form of a bulge portion 14e and extends into theopening 1a of the coil 1 and finally, if sufficient strap is fed, to alevel well above the upper surface of the coil 1, as particularly shownin FIG. l, where the operator can reach out to a position as indicatedby dotted lines 13a to grasp the bulge portion 14C preparatory toforming the lea-ding strap end 14a into a loop -around a portion of thecoil 1. As the upward bulge 14C develops, the strap engages the uppercorner 14]c of the guide and then lpivots at this corner to cause thestrap end 14d' to slide around on the surface 43C in a reverse directionto the longitudinal travel of the strap 14 as indicated by the arrow 78.The location of the corner 14f is such that a locking action occurs onthe strap end by its reaction between the corner 147 and the surface 14gof the guide so that the strap end is securely held in place.

After the operator or worker 13 grasps the bulge portion 14e` of theleading strap end 14a he directs it in a looped path radially around anannular portion of the coil 1 in a direction lirst toward him and thenbeneath the annular portion of the coil where a strap loop 2 is to besecured. This leading strap end is fed around far enough under the coilthat it is delivered to the region of the strap gripping jaws 69. Atthat point, the strapping head 55 is caused to be actuated by powermeans which causes the gripping jaws 6? to grip the leading strap end14a against the plate 70. It is also necessary that the leading strapend 14a be extended through a tubular seal 3 which, by proper operationof the strapping head, is already positioned within the joint formingmechanism SSb. Initially when the strap was fed forward, it too wouldhave been fed through the tubular seal 3 so that the strap ends 14a and14h assume positions indicated in FIG. 6i.V Next, further actuation ofthe strapping head causes retraction of the supply end Mb of the strap14 to remove the slack from the strap loop 2 encircling the coilportion. When the slack has been removed, the joint forming mechanism55h is actuated to produce an interlocking joint between the seal 3 andthe overlapping strap ends 14a and 14h passing through it. Also, afterthe joint forming operation, the shear 71 is moved toward the plate 7!to shear o the supply end of strap from the strap loop 2 encircling thecoil portion so that all parts are in positions as shown in FIG. 6. Y

At this time, the hand crank 39 is rotated to cause rotation of thetapered rollers 15 and 1d to orient the coil 1 to a. new positionrelative to the strapping head 55 so that another strap loop 2 can bepositioned at another portion of the coil. After the cycle is repeatedagain, the coil is again rotated and a third strap loop 2 is secured onthe coil. Ordinarily three strap loops 2 seem to be sufhcient, but morecan be used if desired. Y

It should be made clear that it is not necessary to use a strappingmechanism as complicated as the strapping head 55 in order to obtainbeneit from the use of the strap end guide 40. In fact, the strap endguide 4@ can be made use of even when the strap 14 would be fed forwardmanually into it. The same effect would-be achieved. The bulged portion14C would occur and the operator would still have the advantage of beingable to grasp the bulge portion 14C to increase his efficiency whenstrapping coils. In addition, the arrangement can be such that ordinarywell known hand strapping tools could be used for tensioning the strap,for forming a strap joint and for severing the strap supply from thestrap loop as it is secured on the coil. However, it is believed thatthere is greater speed when embodying the apparatus with an automatic orsemi-automatic strapping Vhead 55 as generally described. Of course, itis also possible to use many diiferent type strapping heads and thedetails of the particular type strapping head shown herein does notconstitute part of this invention per se.

When using a strapping head of the general type shown, it is desirableto relocate it when strapping different diameter coils so that the jointforming mechanism 55h of the strapping head is located in a properposition with respect to the coil so that a strap jointan be properlyformed. Considering the size Yof the coil 1 shown in phantom lines inFIG. 2, it has an outer circumference 1b and an inner circumference 1cwhich denes the cir cular wall of the central opening la. It should beapparent that the joint forming mechanism 55h is positioned adequatelyto form a strap jointV on the coil when the circumferences are as shownat 1b and lc. However, ifV

a coil having an inner circumference of la" isto be strapped, the jointforming mechanism 55b is located below the central opening 1r: of thecoilrand, so, itrwould be necessary to move the entire strapping head 55radially outward of the coil so that the joint forming mechanism 55h islocated in a region where a strap joint can be properly formed on thecoil.V This radial movement of the strapping head 55 is accomplished bytransporting the entire strapping apparatus i2, including the strappinghead 55' and its supporting frame, on the wheels 44 which are supportedand guided by the two tracks 45 and 46.

When the strapping apparatus 12 is relocated to accommodate a particularsize coil, a special locking device is actuated to maintain thestrapping apparatus 12 in a relatively iXed position. The locking deviceconsists of a rod 78 whose upper end passes through an aperture 79 in ahorizontal flange 86 secured to the upper end of the vertical framemember 51. Slightly up from the lower end of the rod 78 it passesthrough a slotted hole 81 in the upper flange 49a of the horizontalframe member 49. The lower end of the rod extends through anotherslotted hole 82 extending through the flange 49h of the horizontal framemember 49. The eXtreme lower end of the rod 78 is secured in a C-shapedlocking shoe 83. This locking shoe $3 is provided with a groove 83awhich has the upper flange of a channel member S4 passing through it.The channel member S4 is secured to the plate 47 which is ordinarilysecurely fastened to the iloor where the entire apparatus is used. Theextreme upper end of the rod 73 is pivotally connected on a pin 8S to ayoke-shaped cam 85. The yoke-shaped cam S6 has a fiat surfaceV Sea andan opposite bulged surface 86b. The bulged surface Sb projects furtherfrom the pin 8S than does the flat surface 86a. A handle S7 is securedto the cam 86 and the purpose of the handle 87 is to rotate the cam 86between positions where the bulged portion 86b or the flat surface 86mof the cam is in contact with a flat pad 80a.' on the upper surface ofthe llange Si). The length of the rod 78 is proportioned with respect tothe location of the locking shoe 83 and the groove 83a of the lockingshoe is of sufficient width that when the lever 87 is rotated to aposition at 87a the flat surface 86a of the cam S6 is resting againstthe pad 30u. This places the rod 78 in its lowermost position where thewalls of the groove 83a are frictionally clear of the upper llange ofthe channel 84. When the arm 87 is moved to a position as shown in boldoutline in FIG. 4, the bulged portion Seb of the cam 86 is in contactwith the pad 50a and this raises the rod 78 to its highest position.When in this position, the lower inner surface of the groove 83a of thelocking shoe 83 is in frictional contact up against the lower surface ofthe upper liange of the channel 84. With this arrangement, thesupporting frame carried by the wheels 44 of the strapping apparatus 12is substantially located in position with respect to the rails 45 and46.

With this arrangement, the frame supported by the wheels 44 is free tomove relative to the lower end of the rod 7S by the amount of the lengthof the two slotted holes 81 and 82. The hole 79 in the iiange Si) issui`n`ciently large that movement of the frame allows the rod 73 toassume an angle to the vertical. For example, if the strapping apparatus12 was moved to the left as viewed inFIG. 4, the rod 78 would form anangle to the left of the vertical. To facilitate this angular movementand still insure a good grip of the locking shoe on the lower innersurface of the channel or guide 84, it is desirable to longitudinallycurve the contacting surface 8311 of the shoe and provide the surfacewith sharpened protrusions. It should be observed that the rod '7Sassumes the 'vertical position when its lower'end portions are restingagainst the left ends of the slotted holes 81 and 82. Therefore, theseends of the slotted holes prevent the rod 7SV from assuming an angle tothe right of the vertical so that the frame cannot be rotated further tothe right as viewed in FIG. 4 as long as the locking shoe S3 isfrictionally engaged with the angle f-l. A tension spring S8 is securedat one end around the rod 7S and at its other end to a shaft 89* whichis held secured in an apertured ear 99 protruding fromfthe frame member49 by means of two threaded nuts 91. The purpose 0f the spring is tomaintain the left ends holes S1 and S2 against the rod 7S ,to establishthe relatively fixed referenced position for the strapping Amechanism12. With what has been explained, it should be of the slotted apparentthat the entire strapping apparatus can be moved to the left on itswheels 44 as the rod 78 tilts angularly to the left until the rodcontacts the right end of either of the slotted holes 81 or 82. Whenthis occurs, the spring 88 is stretched which urges the strappingapparatus back to a position where the rod 78 is again in contact withthe left ends of the slotted holes 31 and 82,

The purpose of this limited movement of the strapping apparatus is topermit slight movement at the time when a strap loop 2 is beingtensioned around a coil portion. By so doing, it has been found that thetension of the strap loop 2 is more or less equalized throughout itslength around the coil portion so that loosening of the loop 2 does notoccur to any substantial extent after the joint has been formed and thecoil removed from strapping position. This loosening phenomenon iscreated by having uneven tension of the strap around the package. Forexample, in the ordinary situation, such as described for the apparatusdisclosed herein, the leading end of the strap 14a is held securely bythe gripping jaws 69 (FIG. 6). The enlarged strap loop as shown beingheld by the worker '13 in FIG. 1 is shrunk in size around a radialportion of the coil by reversing the feed direction of the strap whichmay be accomplished by reversing the feed Wheel 66 (FIG. 4) to withdrawthe strap. As shown in FIG. 7, where a strap loop 2 is encircled aroundan annular portion of the coil 1, ordinarily the tension on the straploop 2 will vary around the coil portion depending upon the cornerconditions. If a pull is exerted in the direction of the arrow 92 in themagnitude of 100 pounds, a certain portion of the tension will be lostas the strap is pulled around the corner 93. Another portion of thetension will be lost around the corner 94 and additional amounts aresuccessively lost around the last two corners 95 and 96, The result isthat the tension in the region 147' of the strap is considerably lessthan the 10G pounds tension exerted in the direction of the arrow 92 onthe supply strap end 14b. Usually, part of the reason for thisdifference in tension is because the gripping jaws 69 or another typegripping device used for gripping the leading strap end 14a isstationary relative to the longitudinal path of the strap 14. It hasbeen found that, by allowing a little longitudinal shift of thestrapping head 55, in the manner described, the tension is equalizedbetween the region 14j of the strap and the region 14g of the strapwhile the tensioning occurs. The result of this is that greater over-alltension is provided in the strap loop 2 for a given tension force in thedirection of the arrow 92 with no subsequent loosening of the strap loopafter the strapping head 55 is removed. To more clearly illustrate whathappens, first assume that the gripping jaws 69 hold the strap end 14afixed. Then, assume that 100 pounds of tension force is applied in thedirection of the arrow 92. Next, assume that pounds of tension is lostaround each of the corners 93, 94, 95 and 96. With this condition, thetension in the strap between corners 93 and 94 would be 80 pounds, thetension between corners 94 and 95 would be 60 pounds, the tensionbetween corners 95 and 96 would be 4() pounds and the tension betweenthe corners 96 and the gripping jaws 69 'would be 2Gi pounds. Then, uponrelease of the strapping head from the strap loop 2 after the shearplate 71 cuts through the supply end 14b of the strap, the 2G poundtension force in the region 14f would be overcome by the 100 poundtension force of region 14g with a resultant loosening of the strap loop2. Now, assume that the strapping head 55 is allowed to move as it doesin this invention, and the gripping jaws 69 grip the leading strap end14a. In this situation, assuming again that 2O pounds of tension arelost around each corner, there would be 100 pounds of tension in theregion 14g, 80 pounds of tension between the corners 93 and 94 and 6Gpounds of tension between the regions 94 and 95. But, between thecorners 95 and 96, instead of 40 pounds of tension, there would be 80pounds of tension and, in the region 1'41, instead of 20 pounds oftension there would be 10G pounds of tension. The iinal result of thisis that, after the strap loop 2 is removed from the supply end of thestrap 14, the tension established around the coil portion does notchange since it is already equalized at pounds in both of the regions14jc and 14g. Since no equalization occurs, there is no loosening of thestrap 2 on the object.

This situation, where there is no loosening of the strap loop 2, isespecially advantageous when strapping noncornpressible objects such asrather Solid, closely wound coils of metal strip, although not sosignificant when the object itself is compressible and is inherentlyresilient. in the case of non-compressible objects, the ability toprovide a non-loosening loop 2 of strap may be the difference betweensuccess and failure when strapping such an object.

In summary, a coil is moved along the conveyor unit 5 to the conveyor 6where it is positioned on the rollers 10 with the central opening 1a ofthe coil positioned above the strap end guide 4t). At this time the airor uid is admitted to the cylinder 32 to cause its piston rod 30 toelevate and raise the spider 19 and, consequently, raise the taperedrollers 15, 16 and 17 so that they ele'vate the coil 1 above the levelof the rollers 10. This leaves the coil 1 supported by the taperedrollers. As previously mentioned, the locking shoe S3 can be adjusted-along the channel S4 to substantially lock the strapping apparatus 12in any particular position along the rails 45 and 46, depending uponwhat size coil is to be strapped. Then the worker 13 causes the strap 14to be fed endwise in the direction of the arrow 76 (FIG. 4) until itemerges from the front end of the strapping head S5. At this time, thestrapping head 5S is pivoted downwardly by action of the air cylinder 61which causes its piston rod 63 to retract. With the strapping head 55pivoted downwardly, the strap 14 fed endwise is guided into the strapend guide 40 so that the strap follows along the surface 43a of themember 43 of the guide (FIGS. 4 and 7). The strap continues forwarduntil its extreme end 14d contacts surface 4Gb where it is deflecteddownwardly to create an upwardly bowed portion 14e immediately behindthe extrerne end 14d. This bowing creates the initial condition whichstarts an upward bulge of the strap. When the extreme end 14d ridescompletely down the surface 43h it contacts a stop surface 43C whicharrests its endwise movement but allows the extreme end 14d to travel ina reverse direction down the sloped and curved surface 43C uponcontinued forward feeding of the strap 14 as the strap end pivots aroundthe corner S14-f. As this occurs, the upward bulging tendency initiallystarted at 14e continues with the creation of an upwardly bulged portion14e. The strap 14 is continued to be fed until the upwardly bulgeportion 14e is elevated high enough for the worker 13 to 'be able tomanually grasp it as indicated'in dotted lines 13a in FIG. 1. Whenstrapping annular objects it is desirable that this bulged portion 14Cemerge through the central opening 1a of the coil 1. After the worker 13grasps the bulged portion 14C he directs the extreme end 14d over andaround the upper surface of the coil portion to be strapped and backbeneath it so that the leading strap end 14a is above and in overlappingrelationship with the supply strap end 14b. This leading strap end 14amust also pass through `a tubular seal 3 which is pre-positioned in thejoint forming mechanism 55h and through which the supply strap end 14bhas already been passed during the strap feeding operation. Thisrelationship of the strap ends and the strapping mechanism is shown inFIG. 6. After this, the gripping jaws 69 are caused to grip the strapend 14a against a plate 70 where it is held while the feed wheel 66 isreversed and the strap iscaused to reverse in direction to remove theslack from the strap loop formed around the coil portion and, before orduring the strap tensioning period, the piston rod 63 is extended byproper admission of air or other lluid to the cylinder 61 to cause thestrapping head 55 to pivot upwardly against the coil 1. After all of theslack is removed, the strap loop 2 appears as shown in FIG. 7 in closecontact with the coil 1. Then, the joint forming mechanism 55h isactuated to provide the interlocking type joint 4 between the tubularYmetal seal 3 and the strap ends. After joint formation, the shear blade71 is moved toward the plate '79 to shear off the strap loop 2 from thesupply end of the strap 1li. After this occurs, the strapping head 55his pivoted downwardly again by reason of retraction of the piston rod 63of the cylinder 61. Sometime during this retraction or afterward, a seal3 freshly formed over the anvil 73 is fed by the anvil '73 into positionin the joint forming mechanism 55b in preparation for a new strappingcycle. The coil 1 is then rotated to align another of its radialportions with the strapping head 5S. This is accomplished by turning thecrank 39 to cause rotation of the tapered rollers 15 and 16. Rotation iscontinued until proper alignment of the coil is achieved. After enoughstrap loops 2 are secured to the coil the piston rod 36 of the cylinder32 is then caused to lower so that the spider 19 causes the taperedrollers 15, 16 and 17 to again be lowered 'beneath the level of therollers 10. This releases the coil for free movement on the rollers and,in this manner, the strapping coil l1 can be pushed on to the conveyorunit 7 for subsequent handling and shipping.

Although the invention has been emphasized with respect to the use of astrapping apparatus having separate feed means and joint forming means,the strap end guide can be used with great facility when the strap isfed to the strap end guide merely by hand. The action is identical whenthe extreme strap end 14d reacts with the surfaces '43b and 43C of thestrap end guide so that a bulged por- .tion 14C can be formed which isreadily grasped by the worker. Also, the same principle can be used forstrapping objects other than annular objects. It can be used forstrapping elongated objects, such as perhaps pipes or tubes or otherelongated pieces together. The elongated objects are pre-positioned infront of where the bulged portion would be formed. The bulge portion isthen formed behind the objects and the worker 13 merely encircles theobjects after the bulge portion is formed in the same manner as whenstrapping a portion of an annular object.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it should be understood that the invention can be modified inmany different ways without departing from the true scope of theinvention as defined by the appendant claims.

We claim:

l. In apparatus for securing a binder str-ap about portions of anannular object comprising, a frame for supporting the annular object,means for feeding a length of binder strap 'endwise belowl the annularobject, a strap guide interposed in the path of travel of the binderstrap being fed and located below the region of the central opening ofthe annular objectcsupported by the frame, said strap guide having botha downwardly sloping portion against which the end of 'the strapcontacts as it is fed forward and an abutment for arresting longitudinalmovement of the end of the strap, the slope of said portioncausing thestrap Vend as the strap continues to be fed forward to be deflecteddownwardly into contact ,with said abutmentV to produce an upward bulgein the strap through the central opening of the annular objectextendring to a level where it can beconveniently manually `grasped andencircled into a loop around a portion of the annular object.

2. In apparatus for securing `a binder strap around an objectcomprising, a frame for supporting the object, means for feeding alength of binder strap endwise below the object, a strap guideinterposedV in the path of J travel of the binder strap being fedV andlocated below 12 the region of the object supported by the frame, saidstrap guide having both a downwardly sloping portion against which theend of the strap contacts as it is fed forward and an abutment forarresting longitudinal movement of the end of the strap, the slope ofsaid portion causing the strap end as the strap continues to be fedforward to be deflected downwardly into contact with said abutment toproduce an upward bulge in the strap extending to a level where it canbe conveniently manually grasped and encircled into a loop around theobject.

3. ln apparatus for securing a binder strap around an object comprising,a support for an object, a strap guide located adjacent to said supportand aligned to receive the leading end of a length of strap fed endwiseto it, said strap guide having means to deflect the strap end into acurved path to provide it with a bulge while the strap is fed endwise,said strap guide also having a stop means for arresting the forwardmovement of the strap end but not the strap proper to thereby increasethe size of the bulge to make the bulge available for manual grasping sothat the strap end can be manually encircled in a loop around the objecton the support, and means adjacent to said guide for securing the looponto the object.

4. The apparatus as defined byclaim l characterized by, and meansadjacent to said guide for securing the loop onto the object.

5. The apparatus as defined by claim 2 characterized by, and meansadjacent to said guide for securing the loop onto the object.

6. The method of making a binder strap available for encircling itaround an object comprising, feeding a binder strap endwise in arectilinear path across at least a portion of the object, deflecting thestrap end into a downwardly curved path to provide it with an upwardbulge beyond said portion of the object, then arresting the endwisemovement of the strap end while continuing the forward feeding movementof the strap proper to thereby increase the size of the upward bulge toone which can be manipulated around said portion of the object.

7. The method of making a binder strap available for encircling it-around at least a portion of an object comprising, feeding a binderstrap endwise across at least a portion of the object, dcflecting thestrap end into a curved path to provide it with a bulge beyond saidportion of the object, then arresting the endwise movement of the strapend while continuing the endwise feeding Vmovement of the strap tothereby increase the size of the bulge to one which can be manipulatedaround said portion of the object.

8. The method of making a binder strap available for encircling itaround a radial portion of an annular object comprising, feeding abinder strap endwise below the annular object until the strap end passesbeneath the central opening of the annular object, then arresting theendwise movement of the strap end while continuing the endwise feedingmovement of the strap and thereby causing the strap end to bulge -upwardthrough the central opening where it can be conveniently manuallygrasped and encircled around the radial portion of the annular object. t

9. The method of securing a binder strap around an annular objectcomprising, supporting the annular ob ject with its axis extendingapproximately vertical, feeding a binder strap endwise beneath andradially of the annular object, deflecting the' strap end into adownwardly curved path in a region ybelow the central opening of theannular object to provide the strap with an upward bulge, then arrestingthe endwise movement of the strapV end while continuing the endwisemovement of the strap to thereby causeV the bulge to enlarge upwardly towhere it can be conveniently manually grasped, then manually graspingthe bulge and encircling the strap end into a loop radially around aportion of the annular object, and securing the loop onto the annularobject.

10. Apparatus for securing a binder strap around an object comprising, astrapping station where an object to be strapped lis positioned, astrapping head mounted on a carriage movable to any of a plurality oflocations at said strapping station, bias means for biasing saidcarriage at one of said locations, and means allowing said bias means tobe overcome by a force applied to said carriage and allow movement ofsaid carriage relative to said one location in response to said forceapplied.

1l. Apparatus as dened by claim 10 characterized by, stop means beingprovided between the bias means and the carriage `for limiting themovement of the carriage relative to the bias means.

l2. Apparatus for securing a binder strap around an object comprising, astrapping station where an object to be strapped is positioned, acarriage provided with wheels mounted on rails for movement to any of aplurality of locations at said strapping station, a strapping headmounted on and .movable with said carriage, a locking shoe mounted on arod pivotally supported by said carriage, said locking shoe beingreleasably engageable with a guide at any of said locations of saidcarriage, movement of the carriage along said rails causing said rod topivot angularly with respect to the carriage when said locking shoe isengaged with said guide.

13. Apparatus as deiined by claim 12 characterized by, and stop meansbeing provided on the carriage which contacts said rod to limit itspivotal movement and thereby limit the movement of the carriage alongsaid rails.

14. Apparatus for securing a binder strap around an object comprising, astrapping station where an object to be strapped is positioned, acarriage mounted for movement to any of aplurality of locations at saidstrapping station, a strapping head mounted on and movable with saidcarriage, a locking shoe movably mounted on said carriage and ordinarilyheld by resilient means against a rst stop on said carriage and alsoreleasably engageable with a fixed guide extending in the path ofmovement of said carriage, said carriage being freely movable when saidlocking shoe is disengaged from said xed guide, but restrained frommovement in one of said locations by the resilient force of saidresilient means when said locking shoe is engaged with said xed guide,the restraint from movement of the carriage being overcome upon theapplication of suiiicient `force against the carriage to therebyovercome the resilient force of said resilient means and cause movementof the carriage from said one location relative to the locking shoe.

l5. Apparatus as deiinedby claim 14 characterized by, and a second stopon said carriage engagea-ble by said locking shoe for limiting themovement of the carriage relative to the locking shoe.

16. Apparatus for securing a binder strap around an object comprising, astrapping station where an object to be strapped is positioned, acarriage mounted for movement to any of a plurality of locations at saidstrapping station, a strapping head mounted on said carriage and movabletherewith, said strapping head having a gripper for gripping the leadingend of a length of strap encircled into a loop about the objectpositioned at the strapping station with the leading end of the strapoverlapping the supply end of the strap, said strapping head also havingtension means for withdrawing the supply end of the length of straprelative to said leading end to tension the loop onto the object, alocking shoe movably mounted on said carriage and also releasablyengageable with a fixed guide extending in the path of movement of saidcarriage, said carriage being freely movable when said locking shoe isdisengaged from said iixed guide, but restrained from movement when inone of said locations by the resilient force of said resilient meanswhen said locking shoe is engaged with said Xed guide, said tensionmeans being capable of tensioning said loop sufficiently so that thetension force developed in said loop is sucient to overcome saidresilient force of said resilient means to thereby cause movement of thecarriage from said one location relative to the shoe for the purpose ofequalizing the tensions developed in the overlapping regions of thesupply and leading ends ofthe loop.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 characterized by, and stopmeans on said carriage for limiting the movement of said carriagerelative to the locking shoe when the locking shoe is engaged with saidXed guide.

18. Apparatus for securing a binder strap around an object comprising, astrapping station where an object to be strapped is positioned, astrapping head mounted on a carriage movable to any of a plurality oflocations at said strapping station, said strapping head having agripper for gripping the leading end of a length of strap encircled intoa loop about the object positioned at said strapping station with thelleading and supply ends of the strap eX- tending inoverlappingrelationship, said strapping head also having tension meansfor withdrawing the supply end of the length of strap relative to saidleading end to tension the loop onto the object, bias means for biasingsaid carriage at one of said locations, said tension means being capableof tensioning said Ilength of strap sufficiently to develop a tensionforce in the strap large enough to overcome said bias means to therebycause movement of the carriage from said one location and equalize thetensions developed in the overlapping regions `of the supply and leadingends of the strap.

19. The apparatus as dened in claim 18 characterized by, and stop meanson said carriage for limiting movement of said carriage when thecarriage is biased at said one location.

20. In apparatus for securing a binder strap around an objectcomprising, a trarne for supporting an object, a strap guide locatedadjacent the region of the supported object and aligned to receive theleading end of a length of strap fed endwise to it, said strap guidehaving an abutment against which the strap end is rst deected and shapedinto a bow and then arrested in its forward motion which causes said bowto increase in size as the feeding of the strap continues, said abutmenthaving two regions of contact against which the strap end reacts as thelbow is increased in size to thereby create a gripping action on thestrap end which prevents displacement of the strap end from the regionof said abutment.

21. The apparatus as defined by claim 2 characterized by, said strapguide also having two spaced apart regions of contact in the vicinity ofsaid abutment against which the strap end reacts as said bulge is formedto thereby create a gripping action on the strap end which preventsdisplacement of the strap end from the region of said abutment.

22. In apparatus for securing a binder strap around an objectcomprising, a support, a strap guide located adjacent to said support,and aligned to receive the leading end of a length of strap fed endwiseto it, said strap `guide having means to deflect the strap end into acurved path to provide it with a bulge while the strap is fed endwise,said strap guide also having a stop means for arresting the forwardmovement of the strap end but not of the strap proper to therebyincrease the size of the bulge, said strap guide also having two spacedapart regions of contact in the vicinity of the two mentioned meansagainst which the strap end reacts as the bulge increases in size tothereby create a gripping action on the strap end which preventsdisplacement of the strap end from the region of said abutment.

23. In apparatus for securing a binder strap around an objectcomprising, a support for an object, a strap guide located adjacent tosaid support and aligned to receive the leading end of a length of strapfed endwise to it, said strap guide having deection means to deect thestrap end into a curved path to provide it with a bulge while the strapis fed endwise, said strap guide also having a stop means for arrestingthe forward movement ofthe strap end but not the strap proper to therebyincrease the size of the bulge to make the bulge available for manualgrasp-ing so that the strap end can be manually encircled in a looparound the object on the support, said strap guide also having twospaced apart regions of contact in the vicinity of the deection meansand the stop means against which the strap end reacts as the bulgeincreases in size to thereby create a gripping action on the strap endVwhich prevents displacement of the strap end from the region of saidabutment. Y

24. The method of making a binder strap available for encircling itaround an object comprising, feeding a binder strap endwise in arectilinear path, `deliecting the strap end into a downwardly curvedpath to provide an upward bulge in the strap immediately behind thestrap end, arresting the endwise movement of the strap end whilecontinuing the endwise feeding movement of the strap proper to therebyincrease the upward bulge, then allowing the strap end to rotate inresponse to the forces resulting from the formation of the upward bulgeand then restraining the rotational movement of the strap end to createa gripping pressure for gripping the strap end and ypreventing itsfurther displacement.

25. In apparatus for securing a binder strap around an objectcomprising, a frame for supporting an object at a strapping station, astrap guide located adjacent the region of the supported objectandaligned to receive the leading end of a length of strap fed endwise toit, said strap guide having an abutment against which the strap end isarrested in its forward motion, said guide being shaped to deflect thestrap end and shape it into a bow which is caused to increase in size asthe feeding of the strap continues, a strapping -head mounted on acarriage movable to any of a plurality of locations at said strappingstation to accommodate ldifferent positions and sizes of objects locatedat the strapping station, said strapping head having a strap end gripperfor gripping the leading end of the strap and a strap feed means forfeeding a length of strap endwise into said strap guide and for reversefeeding of said strap to tension it after it has been grasped when inthe shape of said bow and encircled in a loop about an object with itsleading end gripped by said gripper, bias means for biasing saidcarriage at one of said locations, and means allowing said bias means tobe overcome by the force developed in the strap while it is tensioned toallow movement of said carriage relative to said one location inresponse to said force.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMacChesney Mar. l0, 1936 12,688,482 Boblit Sept. 7, 1954

